BR 15s defeat Stamford

Published 8:00 pm, Sunday, July 20, 2008

Following a dramatic win over Waterford,the Norwalk 15 year-old All-Star carried over the momentum against rival Stamford in the Babe Ruth StateTournament.

Brian O'Neill's walk-off home run in the bottom of the seventh inning lifted Norwalk to a 2-1 win in its first-round game in a pitcher's duel with Jon Cohen getting the win late Saturday night.

In its second-round game Sunday, the all-stars didn't need such heroics but were backed by a 13-hit attack.

O'Neill was at it again, but this time he was on the mound, pitching five effective innings while Kevin Cawley's three-run triple in the fourth inning was the biggest blow in an 11-5 victory over Stamford at Sal Amanti Field.

Norwalk (2-0) advances to the winner's bracket final, where it will play either Shelton or Southbury at 8 p.m.Tuesday.

"The team played well, especially since they werecoming off such an emotional game last night," head coach Brian Jacoby said. "We scored early and got a little too comfortable but give a little credit to Stamford too because they didn't let us take them out of the game. They hung in there."

Norwalk took a 3-0 lead in the top of the second inning off lefty starter Brian Moynihan, highlighted by a two-run single by leadoff hitter Tyler McEwan (3-for-4, two RBIs, two runs and a stolen base). McEwan was a pest the entire game for Stamford.

"He's the prototypical leadoff man," Jacoby said."Some how he always seems to get on base."

Stamford answered with an unearned run in the bottom of the inning, with Max Freccia hitting an RBI single to right field.

A five-run fourth inning put Norwalk ahead 8-1. Eric Stenger (4-for-5) had an RBI single to right to start things off then Cawley clubbed the first pitch he saw over center fielder Jake Brown's head which cleared the bases. Cawley would later score on a wild pitch.

"Kevin's been our best post-season hitter," Jacoby said. "That was a back breaker (for Stamford)."

That was more than enough run support for O'Neill.

"Brian battled today," Jacoby said. "He didn't have his best control but he gets up there and maintains his composure."

O'Neill seemed to tire in the fifth inning when Stamford cut the lead to 8-3 when they scored two runs on two hits, highlighted by a RBI singles by Jayme Antonetti and Ryan Haggerty.

Norwalk tacked on three more runs in the seventh as the all-stars capitalized on three errors by Stamford. Spencer Jacoby, Stenger and Cawley each scored runs.

Cawley pitched the last two innings, giving up two runs on two hits and four walks, but was able to close the door on Stamford.

"We're not afraid of whoever we have to play (Tuesday)," Jacoby added.